Cavs-Bulls, Pelicans-Warriors highlight NBA opening day

MANILA, Philippines – Two exciting matchups highlight the opening day of the NBA’s 2015-2016 season on October 27 (October 28, Manila time).

The first gameday of the most popular basketball league in the world will see LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers go up against Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls in the United Center, to be followed by Anthony Davis and his New Orleans Pelicans taking on Steph Curry and his Warriors in Golden State, where the Dubs will receive their NBA championship rings and see their title banner from last season go up the rafters.

Also on the first day of the season, the Detroit Pistons will take on last year’s number one seed in the East, the Atlanta Hawks, in the ATL for a non-national TV contest.

Christmas Day

In the biggest day of the NBA regular season (December 26, Manila time), an action-packed schedule kicks off when Davis and his Pelicans take a trip to South Beach for a duel against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.

In the second game, Rose and the Chicago Bulls go to Oklahoma City where Russell Westbrook and the Thunder will be waiting. 

For the marquee contest on Christmas, James and the Cavs will take on Curry and the Warriors in a finals rematch at the Oracle Arena.

The last two games on the holiday will feature a pair of Western Conference battles as the new-look San Antonio Spurs with LaMarcus Aldridge take on James Harden’s Houston Rockets while the two Los Angeles teams – the Lakers and Clippers – face off at Staples Center.

Martin Luther King Day

On the NBA’s other big holiday gameday – Martin Luther King Day on January 18 (January 19, Manila time) – a 10-game schedule commences with the Philadelphia 76ers squaring off against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. 

Later that day, the Pelicans will go up against Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, and the rest of the Memphis Grizzlies on ESPN while the Cavs and Dubs have their second finals rematch in Cleveland to be televised by TNT.

Other games on MLK Day include Utah at Charlotte, Portland at Washington, Chicago at Detroit, Orlando at Atlanta, Brooklyn at Toronto, Boston at Dallas, and Houston at Los Angeles (Clippers).

Other big games

Kevin Durant will make his return to action and Aldridge will make his debut for the Spurs the same time when Oklahoma City visits San Antonio for both teams’ first game of the season on October 28 (October 29, Manila time). 

Later that day, the top two picks in the 2015 NBA Draft – Karl Towns of the Timberwolves and D’Angelo Russell of the Lakers – will go head-to-head when Minnesota goes to Los Angeles. 

Speaking of rookie debuts, Jahlil Okafor of the 76ers will have his first taste of NBA action on October 28 when his team takes on the Boston Celtics. On the same day, Kristaps Porzingis and the New York Knicks will go up against the Milwaukee Bucks, while Mario Hezonja and the Orlando Magic go toe-to-toe with the Washington Wizards.

Those looking for the next chapter of the DeAndre Jordan-Dallas Mavericks saga won’t have to wait long as the Mavericks are scheduled to take on the Clippers in Hollywood right away on October 29 (October 30, Manila time).

In what could be an Eastern Conference Finals preview, James’ Cavs and Wade’s Heat will have their first of 3 battles in the upcoming regular season on October 30 (October 31, Manila time) in Cleveland. On the same day, a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals will take place with the Warriors facing the Rockets.

Aldridge, meanwhile, makes his return to Portland on November 11 (November 12, Manila time) when the Spurs go up against the Trail Blazers.

More balanced schedule

After consecutive years of complaints about the NBA schedule being unbalanced, the league took a lighter approach to producing its schedule for the upcoming season.

The average of back-to-back games per team this season is down to 17.8 after being at 19.3 last season. No team will have more than 20 back-to-back games.

In related news, the number of times an NBA team will have a 4 games in 5 nights stretch this season is down to just 27 after being at 70 last season.

The Cavs and Warriors will have the most nationally-televised games with 25 each, while the Clippers and Thunder will have 24. The Bulls are on schedule for 23, while the Spurs will have 21.

The NBA All-Star Game will take place on Valentine’s Day, February 14 (February 15 PH time), while the final day of the regular season will be on April 13 (April 14 PH time).

The 2016 NBA Playoffs open 3 days after the last day of the regular season. – Rappler.com